The Loeries Youth Committee Mentorship Programme comprises 15 dynamic young professionals from the brand communications industry who will be mentored by the Loeries Board, Facebook and UN Women so that they can act as a voice for the youth in the industry.
This has been done as part of the continuous effort to enrich the brand communication industry and support youth empowerment. The committee programme was launched by the Loeries, in partnership with Facebook Africa and UN Women South Africa Multi-Country Office.
The Loeries was the founding member of the African Chapter of the Unstereotype Alliance, convened by UN Women, in February 2020. Through the partnership, the Loeries and Unstereotype Alliance have collaborated to host masterclasses and webinars to help change the narrative of unstereotyping, and the newly formed Loeries Youth Committee mentorship programme is the natural next step.
‘UN Women South Africa Multi-Country Office is excited to be a partner of this mentorship programme as its focus on young people, particularly young women, will ensure that the advertising and creative industry drives gender equality and fresh perspectives on how the industry can be more diverse and inclusive to address harmful gender stereotypes,’ said Anne Githuku-Shongwe, Representative, South Africa Multi-Country Office.
The Loeries Youth Committee members were selected from across the African continent via an application and interview process for brand communication professionals under 30 years old. The committee begins its mentorship process in June 2021 which will see the first act of the members being the creation and adoption of a name and brand identity for the new committee.
The members selected for the committee are:
– Ashleigh Lloyd – Creative Director, Studio Lloyd.
– Banzi Kasana – Art Director, Duke Group.
– Brian Njagi – Creative Lead, Isobar Kenya.
– Duanne Aspeling – Digital Content Specialist, The Foschini Group.
– Gale Maimane – Director, Darling Films.
– Iroro Alloh – Creative Copywriter, Insight Publicis Nigeria.
– Kgaugelo Mokgehle – Creative Writer, TBWA Hunt Lascaris.
– Lameez Davids – Art Director, M&C Saatchi Abel.
– Lebogang Kgothadi – Senior Brands and Partnerships Manager: SA & Nigeria, Universal Music Group.
– Robyn Phillips – Art Director, M&C Saatchi Abel.
– Taurai Mtake – Graphic Designer, CBZ Holdings and TaVaTake Designs Zimbabwe.
– Tshepo Tumahole – Senior Copywriter, Joe Public United.
– Zainab Mitha – Junior Art Director, FCB.
– Zamazwide Nxumalo – Creative Director, Publicis Worldwide.
– Zapriana Atanassova – Copywriter and Community Manager, Arc Interactive.
The Loeries Youth Committee’s objectives include the amplification of positive societal messaging amongst the committee’s peer group and a structured platform for networking and the transfer of skills with the view of ensuring that top talent remains in the industry. The journey also provides a mentorship to upskill and provide an acceleration path.
Facebook Africa will host sessions with the committee to train them during their one-year tenure with the view of helping empower the committee members with the strategic tools and thinking required to deliver their objectives.
‘We are incredibly excited to partner with the Loeries on the establishment of the 2021 Loeries Youth Committee. The youth are Africa’s long-awaited positive disrupters and they bring a unique perspective that will shape Africa into the next global powerhouse of the future,’ commented Musaba Kangulu, Client Solutions Manager Lead at Facebook. ‘This committee is the start of sharing a safe space for discussions as well as the exchange of ideas and innovative solutions. We look forward to seeing what they come up with.’
Loeries Chairperson Fran Luckin, Loeries CEO Preetesh Sewraj, Dawn Rowlands, Suhana Gordhan and Gaby de Abreu are the five Loeries board members who will mentor the committee to identify gaps within the industry and tackle youth-centred issues, while giving them guidance as they grow in their own career journeys.
‘The Loeries is an important platform for diversity, equity and inclusion and the youth committee will be a key project in the pursuit of these goals,’ said Sewraj. ‘We envision a long-term plan where this body will grow and evolve its role to support the brand communication industry in its position as a key societal influencer.’
The committee will have a one-year tenure post in which selected members will retain a life-time membership to the body as advisors to the next round of committee members.
Modern Marketing is a proud media partner of The Loeries.
